Clutch

ABSTRACT

908,210. Brakes. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. July 5, 1961 [July 18, 1960], No. 24272/61. Class 103 (1). [Also in Group X] A window regulator mechanism applicable to vehicle windows comprises a self-sustaining device including a cup-shaped brake drum 12, axially mounting a spindle 22 having secured thereto a drive hub 28 and an operating handle 26, a window operator key 80 secured at one end to a pinion 66 rotatable on spindle 22 and meshing with a window operating sector 68 and a helical spring 36 between the hub 28 and the drum 12 and wound on rotation of the handle 26 by contact of edges of a slot 38 in the hub 28 with one or other ends 40, 42 of the spring to disengage the spring from the drum 12 and unwound on attempted movement by the window by contact of edges of the key 80 with one or other end 40, 42 of the spring to grip the drum 12, and the spring is returned in the space between the drums by a nylon or polyethylene washer 50 at one end and at the other end by an outward flange 52 on the hub forming a bearing surface on the drum 12. Another bearing surface for the spindle 22 is formed by the inward annular flange 20 of the drum 12. An axial rib 82 on the hub forms a bearing seat for the key 80.

E l ld- 'idd Patented Nov. 12, 1963 3,116,383 CLUTCH Barthold Frederick Meyer, Tecumseh, Qntario, Canada,

and Theodore A. Schaad, Bloomfield Hills, Mich, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 18, 1969, Ser. No. 43,48 7 4 Claims. (t'll. 192-8) This invention relates to a clutch, and more Particularly to a clutch for use with vehicle window regulator mechamsms. Vehicle window regulator mechanisms of the manufl type usually include a clutch operatively connected between the operating handle and the window regulating means in order to irreversibly hold the window in any adjusted position thereof and yet allow movement of the window in either opening or closing directions upon operation of the handle by the operator.

Clutches of this type usually include a cylindrical clutch housin or case which rotatably receives a driving spindle therethrough, with an operating handle being secured to one end of the spindle adjacent one end of the housing. A spring retainer or hub secured to the spindle and located within the housing is provided with a cylindrical wall located in radially spaced relationship to the inner wall of the housing. A helical coil spring fits within the annular space :between the housing and retainer, with the coils of the spring being in frictional engagement with the inner wall of the housing. The ends of the spring are bent radially inwardly and are received within an axially extending slot in the retainer, each end of the spring being located adjacent one radial wall of the slot. A drive key fits within the retainer slot between the bent ends of the spring, with this key being secured to an output pinion rotatably mounted on the spindle adjacent the other end thereof and located adjacent the other end of the housing. The output pinion usually meshes with a sector gear tired to the lift or driving arm of the window regulating means.

When the handle is rotated in either direction, one of the radial walls of the slot engages one of the bent ends of the spring to partially wind up the spring and permit rotational movement of the retainer, spindle and spring as a unit in the direction of wind-up of the spring, with the engagement of the one end of the spring with the drive key operating to rotate the output pinion and thereby operate the window regulating means. \Vhen the manual handle is not rotated, the frictional engagement of the spring with the inner Wall of the housing irreversibly holds or locks the window in place, any forceable or otherwise movement of the window causing the drive key to engage one of the bent ends of the spring to tend to unwind the spring and thereby increase the frictional engagernent of the spring against the inner wall of the housing.

The clutch of this invention is of this general type but includes additional features which permit ease of assembly and insure easy and trouble-free operation.

One feature of this invention is in providing the housing with an annular Wall at the one end thereof, with this wall including an inwardly flanged central aperture providing a bearing seat for the one end of the spindle. This feature of the invention permits ease of assembly and insures accurate location of the retainer within the housing and trouble-free operation, since the spindle and housing will be of the same approximate hardness to prevent undue wear or scoring of either.

Another feature of this invention is in providing a nylon or polyethylene ring or washer atthe one end of the housing to slideably seat one terminal coil and respective bent end of the spring and prevent this one terminal coil and respective bent end from slipping off one end of the retainer so that the one bent end slips out of the retainer slot. Slippage of a terminal coil of the spring and respective bent end relative to the retainer slotis often a cause of trouble in clutches of this type.

A further feature of this invention is in providing the other end of the'retainer with an annular radially extending flange which seats and locates the other terminal coil and other respective bent end of the spring to prevent this other terminal coil and respective other bent end from slipping relative to the retainer so that the other bent end slips out of the retainer slot. coils of the spring are positively located in an axial direction within the annular space between the housing and the retainer and the respective bent ends of the spring are prevented from slipping out of the retainer slot.

Yet another feature of this invention is in providing an annular arcuate groove in the annular flange of the retainer, this groove mating with an annular rib at the other end of the housing and seating the other end of the retainer.

A further feature of this invention is in providing an axially extending rib intermediate the radial walls of the retainer slot so as to provide a bearing seat for the drive key and thereby prevent radial tilting of the drive key within the retainer slot. This feature of the invention accurately locates the drive key relative to the bent ends of the spring within the retainer slot.

These and other features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away view of a clutch according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the clutch.

Referring now to HG. 1 of the drawings, a clutch 19 generally includes a cylindrical clutch case or housing 12 provided with a cylindrical body wall 1 Wall 14 at one end thereof merges on an arcuate juncture rib 16 with an annular end wall 18 of the housing. Wall 13 is provided with an inwardly flanged central aperture 28 which provides a bearing seat for one end of the drive spindle 22. The one end of the spindle extends outwardly through a suitable aperture in the door inner panel 24 and is secured in a suitable and known manner to a manual operating handle 26. A hub or spring retainer 28 is secured to the spindle 22 adjacent the other end thereof and located Within the housing 12. In the specific embodiment shown, the spindle is provided with an annular groove '33 and an adjacent axially splined portion 32, with the retainer 28 being formed of die cast material which is cast against the spindle 22 so as to fixedly secure the retainer to the spindle. As shown, the outer cylindrical \wall 34 of the retainer is located in radially spaced relationship to the inner surface of the wall 14 to provide an annular space therebetween, with a helical coil spring 36 beinlocated within this annular space.

As best shown in FiGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the retainer 23 is provided with an axially extending retainer slot 38 which receives the one inwardly bent end iii and the other inwardly bent end 42, of spring 36, with the bent ends being located in adjacent spaced relationship to the respective radial walls 44 and 46 of slot 38. A nylon or polyethylene ring or washer 59 seats within housing '12 within the juncture rib 16 thereof, with the terminal coil respective to the bent end ill of the spring 36 slidably seating on the ring 59 to locate this terminal coil and prevent the respective bent end 4%) from slipping out of Thus, both terminal 3 one end of the retainer slot :8. The retainer 28 is further provided with a radially extending annular flange 52 at the other end thereof which seats and locates the other terminal coil and respective bent end 42 of spring 36 to locate this other terminal coil and prevent the respective bent end from slipping out of the other end of the retainer slot 38. Thus, spring 36 is positively and accurately located within the annular space provided between the etainer 23 land the inner surface of the wall 14 of hous ing 12.

Flange 52 is provided with an outwardly opening annular groove 54 which mates with a juncture rib 56 of the housing 12 to provide a bearing seat for the other end of the retainer 28 on the housing 12 and thereby locate the a other end of spindle 22. luncture rib 56 is provided between the wall '14 of the housing and a peripheral radial flange 58 of the housing which bears against and is secured to a support or back plate 60 for the window regulator means, with flange 55 being riveted to the plate in a number of places at 62.

The other end 64 of spindle 22 is of reduced diameter and rotatably mounts an output pinion gear 66 which meshes with a sector gear 68 of the window regulating means. The back plate 60 is provided with a lanced out circular bent tab 7i provided with an opening 72 which seats a flanged bearing '7 for the one end of the pinion 66. Tab 7 0 further includes a semi-circular rib 76 which axially locates the sector as with respect to the pinion 66. A drive key includes a plate portion 78 staked to the other end of pinion 66 and an axially extending key portion 80 of circular cross-section which is received within the slot 38 intermediate the bent ends 40 and 42 of the spring 35, as best shown in FIG. 2. An axially extending rib 82 located intermediate the walls 44 and 46 of the retainer slot 38 has an arcuate outer surface which provides a bearing seat for the key portion 80 to accurately locate this key portion in radial directions and prevent radial tilting movement of the key with respect to the bent ends of the spring 36.

his believed that operation of the clutch is apparent from the foregoing description. Briefly, whenever the handle 26 is rotated in either direction, either one or the other of the radial walls 44- or 46 of the retainer slot will engage a respective bent end 40 or 42 of the spring 36 to partially wind up the spring in the direction of rotational movement of the spindle. This will partially release the spring from frictional engagement with the inner surface of Wall 14 to allow the spring to rotate with the spindle. The engagement of the one or the other of the bent ends of the spring with a side of the key portion 80 rotates the key with the spindle and spring to thereby rotate the pinion 66 and in turn rotate the sector 68. When the window is in any adjusted position, forceable or otherwise movement of the window to another position is prevented due to the frictional engagement of the spring 36 with the inner surface of Wall 14- oi the housing. Any movement of the window will cause either one or the other of the side edges of the key portion 3% to engage the adjacent bent end 40 or 2 of the spring to thereby tend to unwind the spring and increase the frictional engagement of the spring against the inner surface of the wall 14 of the clutch housing to prevent any such movement of the window.

Thus, this invention provides a new and improved clutch which is particularly useful with vehicle window ing a retainer slot having spaced side walls, coil spring means located between said hub and said annular wall and having at least one of the coils thereof in frictional gripping engagement with said annular wall, said spring means including spaced inwardly bent ends, each end being located adjacent one of the side walls of said slot, Washer means of material having a low coefiicient of friction seated on said end wall of said housing and slidably seating one end of said spring means to axially locate said spring means within said housing and prevent movement of said one bent end of said spring means respective to said one end thereof out of said slot, flange means on said hub slid-ably seating the other end of said spring means to further axially locate said spring means within said housing and prevent movement of the other bent end of said spring means respective to said other end thereof out of said slot, drive key means rotatably mounted on said spindle adjacent the other end thereof and including a drive key portion received within said slot intermediate said side walls thereof and between said bent ends of said spring means, means coupling said drive key means to a mechanism to be operated, and means for rotating said spindle, rotation of said spindle causing one of said llub side walls to engage one of said bent ends of said spring means to partially wind up said spring means and release said spring means from frictional gripping engagement with said annular wall, said one of said bent ends of said spring means engaging said drive key portion to rotate said drive key means with said spindle and operate the mechanism to be operated.

[2. A clutch comprising, in combination, a support, a generally cup-shaped housing including :an annular axially extending wall merging on one arcuate juncture rib into a radially inwardly extending end wall and on another arcuate juncture rib into a radially outwardly extending mounting flange secured to said support, a driving spindle rotatably mounted adjacent one end thereof on said end wall and including an annular retainer hub located Within said housing in spaced relationship to said annular wall, said hub including an axially extending spring retainer slot having spaced side walls and a lateral flange adjacent one end thereof seating on said other juncture rib to rotatably mount said other end of said spindle on said housing, means rotatably mounting said other end of said spindle on said support, coil spring means located between said hub and said annular Wall and having at least one of the coils thereof in frictional gripping engagement with said annular Wall, said spring means including axially spaced ends, each being bent radially inwardly and located within said slot adjacent a respective side wall thereof, annular washer means of material having a low coelficient of friction seated on said housing end wall adjacent said one juncture rib, said washer means seating one end of said spring means to locate said spring means axially within said housing and prevent movement of the bent end of said spring means respective to said one end thereof out of sm'd slot, drive key means rotatably mounted on said spindle adjacent the other end thereof and including a drive key received Within said slot between said side walls thereof and between said bent ends of said spring means in spaced relationship thereto, means coupling said drive key means to a mechanism to be operated, and means for rotating said spindle, rotation of said spindle causing tone of said side walls to engage one of said bent ends of said spring means to partially wind up said spring means and release said spring means from frictional gripping engagement with said annular wall, said one of said bent ends of said spring means engaging said drive key to rotate said drive key means with said spindle and operate the mechanism to be operated.

3. A clutch comprising, in combination, a support, a housing including an annular axially extending surface, a driving spindle rotatably mounted adjacent one end thereof on said housing, means rotatably mounting said spindle adjacent the other end thereof on said. support,

said spindle including a hub located within said housing in annular spaced relation to said surface, said hub including an axially extending spring retainer slot having spaced side Walls, helical coil spring means located between said hub and said surface and having at least one of the coils thereof in frictional gripping engagement with said annular surface, said spring means including axially spaced ends, each being bent radially inwardly, each bent end being located adjacent one of said side walls of said slot, an axially extending rib on said hub located within said slot intermediate said side walls thereof and including an areuate bearing surface, drive key means rotatably mounted 'on said spindle adjacent the other end thereof and including an arcuately shaped drive key received within said slot intermediate said side walls thereof and said bent ends of said spring means and slidably bearing against said bearing rib, means coupling said drive key means to a mechanism to be operated, and means for rotating said spindle, rotation of said spindle causing one of said side walls to engage one of said bent ends of said spring means to partially wind up said spring means and release said spring means from frictional gripping engagement with said annular surface, said one of said bent ends of said spring means engaging said drive key to rotate said drive key means with said spindle and operate the mechanism to be operated.

4. A clutch comprising, in combination, a support a housing including an annular axially extending wall merging on one arcuate juncture rib into a radially inwardly extending end wall and on another arcuate juncture rib into a radially outwardly extending mounting flange adapted to be fixedly secured to said support, said end Wall including a flanged central opening, a driving spindle rotatably mounted adjacent .one end thereof within said opening, means rotatably mounting said spindle adjacent the other end thereof on said support, said spindle including an annular hub located within said housing in spaced relationship to said annular wall, said hub including an axially extending spring retainer slot having spaced side walls and a lateral flange at one end thereof seating on said other juncture rib to rotatably mount the other end of said spindle on said housing, coil spring means located between said hub and said annular wall and having at least one of the coils thereof in frictional gripping engagement with said annular wall, said spring means including axially spaced ends, each being bent radially inwardly and located within said slot adjacent one of the side walls thereof, one end of said spring means seating on said lateral flange to locate said spring means within said housing and prevent movement of the bent end :of said spring means respective to said one end thereof out of said slot, an annular Washer of material having a low coefiicient of friction seated on said end wall adjacent said one juncture rib, said washer seating the other end of said spring means to locate said other end axially within said housing and prevent movement of the bent end of said spring means respective to said'other end thereof out of said slot, an axially extending rib on said hub located within said slot intermediate said side walls thereof and including a radially facing arcuate bearing surface, a drive key rotatably mounted on said spindle adjacent the other end thereof and received within said slot between said side walls thereof and between said bent ends of said spring means, said key being of arcuate cross section complementary to the bearing surface of said axial rib and slidably seating thereon, means coupling said drive key to a mechanism to be operated, and means for rotating said spindle, rotation of said spindle causing one of said side walls to engage one of said bent ends of said spring means to partially wind up said spring means and release said spring means from frictional gripping engagement with said annular wall, said one of said bent ends of said spring means engaging said drive key to rotate said drive key with said spindle and operate the mechanism to be operated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813,095 Starkey et al July 7, 1931 1,830,003 Shailor Nov. 3, 1931 2,881,881 Sacchini et a1 Apr. 14, 1959 2,922,220 Sacchini Jan. 26, 1960 2,927,551 Bevis et a1 Mar. 8, 1960 2,940,563 Milenkovic et a1 June 14, 1960 2,946,417 Hun-gerford July 26 1960 2,947,278 Magill et al. Aug. 2, 1960 3,002,594 Haseler et *al Oct. 3, 1961 3,011,605 Hungerford Dec. 5, 1961 

1. A CLUTCH COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT, A GENERALLY CUP-SHAPED HOUSING INCLUDING AN END WALL AND AN ANNULAR AXIALLY EXTENDING WALL, A DRIVING SPINDLE, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID SPINDLE ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF ON SAID END WALL, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID SPINDLE ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF ON SAID SUPPORT, SAID SPINDLE INCLUDING A HUB LOCATED WITHIN SAID HOUSING IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID ANNULAR WALL, SAID HUB INCLUDING A RETAINER SLOT HAVING SPACED SIDE WALLS, COIL SPRING MEANS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID HUB AND SAID ANNULAR WALL AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE OF THE COILS THEREOF IN FRICTIONAL GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ANNULAR WALL, SAID SPRING MEANS INCLUDING SPACED INWARDLY BENT ENDS, EACH END BEING LOCATED ADJACENT ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID SLOT, WASHER MEANS OF MATERIAL HAVING A LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION SEATED ON SAID END WALL OF SAID HOUSING AND SLIDABLY SEATING ONE END OF SAID SPRING MEANS TO AXIALLY LOCATE SAID SPRING MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE BENT END OF SAID SPRING MEANS RESPECTIVE TO SAID ONE END THEREOF OUT OF SAID SLOT, FLANGE MEANS ON SAID HUB SLIDABLY SEATING THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRING MEANS TO FURTHER AXIALLY LOCATE SAID SPRING MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER BENT END OF SAID SPRING MEANS RESPECTIVE TO SAID OTHER END THEREOF OUT OF SAID SLOT, DRIVE KEY MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF AND IN- 